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Safety Questions

As disclosed in US patent 5,595,543 if a massive leak occurs that section of tube will be isolated from the network, and then flooded with air along the length of the tube. The rate and spacing of the air admission valves is such that the capsules are all slowed down by aerodynamic resistance, and the air between the capsules acts as a big air bag to help limit the force of any collisions. This represents less risk than a wing falling off of an airliner flying at 40,000 feet.

" The most successful vehicle in the world is not the automobile. It is the bicycle. Please prove this is more than just a scam by answering a fundamental safety issue- how will you address earthquakes and other shifts in earths plate? If this technology is viable than why is California and new York opting to build high speed trains? "

Roads, and High-Speed-Rail (HSR) are not designed to address earthquakes and other shifts in earth's plates. All transportation modes are prone to earthquake damage. Fortunately earthquakes account for less than 0.01% of transportation related death and property loss. Earthquake mitigation is possible. The Alaska pipeline crosses the Denali fault, and was designed for a maximum expected event. A 7.9 quake along the Denali fault happened in 2002, the design for pipeline quake mitigation worked and not a drop of oil spilled. Much mor

The first 3 miles (600km/h speed) will likely cost about $20m. For 200-300 mile routes, the cost should drop to about $3M/mile if on reasonably flat ground and close to manufacturing locations. Add the cost of Access portals (about $25M), and capsules (about $50k each in quantity).

If an unlikely tube ruptures occurs, sensors activate a safety routine to reduce risks. The damaged section is isolated with gate valves, traffic rerouted, and then air is admitted all along the tube via apertures sized and spaced such that the rate of capsule deceleration is high yet survivable. The air between the capsules reduces the likelihood of collisions as they slow down and encounter the inrush of air from the rupture. As a network, with decentralized controls, and high redundancy total failure is very improbable. Deterrents

All transportation modes are subject to impacts from tornadoes and hurricanes. Fortunately transportation deaths such events are very rare compared to common accidents. Higher speed ET3 will be underground this will also help mitigate wind damage risks.

Air rushing into a tube could pneumatically propel, impact, or damage a capsule, or cause capsules to collide. To mitigate this risk, if a big leak is sensed, the section of tube is isolated, and traffic is rerouted, and the isolated tube is flooded with air along the entire length. This air is admitted as fast as possible without causing the capsules to decelerate faster than survivable. In this way, a sudden tube breach will damage fewer capsules. The high speed routes will be underground -- so the possibility of a broken tube is much less.

Electro-Magnetic-Pulse (EMP) can be caused by lightning or nuke blasts, or other man-made causes. EMP can cause very high current in long conductors, current high enough to explosively vaporize the conductor. Most of the ET3 tubes will not have long conductors for most of the length. One of the world's top experts in EMP mitigation is a licensee, and has advised on ways to mitigate EMP risk for ET3.